PanArmenian News
March 30 2005

PHILIP KIRKOROV HOPES GREEK REPERTOIRE WILL HELP ARMENIANS TO FORGET
HIS `PRO-TURKISH’ PAST

30.03.2005 05:17

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Philip Kirkorov is not going to refuse from
concerts in Yerevan despite the fact that the Armenian young people
urge the arrangers to cancel the event, Komsomolskaya Pravda Russian
newspaper reports. When commenting on his `pro-Turkish’ repertoire
the singer noted, `The host country confuses the Greek songs I am
performing now with Turkish ones. It their problem but not the
problem of the whole Armenian nation’.

PanArmenian News
March 30 2005

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER EXPLAINED WHAT CONCESSIONS ARMENIA CAN MAKE
ON KARABAKH CONFLICT

30.03.2005 04:55

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It is obvious for me that the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict can be resolved peacefully, on the basis of
concessions’, Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian stated during
the parliamentary hearings with the subject `Nagorno Karabakh
problem: Ways of Settlement’, Armenpress agency reports. The Minister
explained what concessions the Armenian party can make. `As a
principal concession we consider the fact that Armenian has not
recognized the Nagorno Karabakh Republic so far, though the NKR was
formed in accord with law and exists as an independent democratic
state for many years. It is the demonstration of good will to
preserve the process of peaceful settlement within the frames of the
OSCE Minsk Group’, S. Sargsian noted. As the second concession the
Minister named the item of the CE resolution 1416, which says that
the territory’s (i.e. Nagorno Karabakh) independence of the state
(i.e. Azerbaijan) can be achieved only via a legal and peaceful
process of democratic will of the population of the given territory.
In this context Serge Sargsian pointed out to the proposal of NATO PA
President Pierre Lellouche on conduction of a referendum among the
population of the former Nagorno Karabakh autonomy on the issue of
democratic self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh. Touching upon the
third concession Serge Sargsian noted that negotiations can be held
on the security zone. `I am not the adherent of returning the
territories forming the security belt. But I think that via
negotiations we can make certain concessions under the term that the
Azeri party will provide guarantees of non-resumption of war, which
will be confirmed by the guarantees of authoritative international
organizations and states’, Serge Sargsian stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 30 2005

ROBERT KOCHARIAN DECORATED RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA WITH MKHITAR
GOSH ORDER

30.03.2005 04:45

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian decorated
Russian Ambassador to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov with the Mkhitar Gosh
order for the significant contribution to the consolidation of the
Armenian-Russian relations, RA President’s press service reports.
During the visit Robert Kocharian noted that considerable progress in
the bilateral relation has been observed during the period Anatoly
Dryukov was at the office. In his turn, Anatoly Dryukov noted that
during his diplomatic mission in Armenia he aspired to the
strengthening of the Armenian-Russian relations. And added that he
wishes to see Armenia a peaceful, sustainable and prosperous state.
To note, Anatoly Dryukov is completing his mission in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Commentator , NY
March 30 2005

Pulitzer Winning Lecturer Explores Genocides Past and Present
By Gil Landau
Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Genocide is not a topic generally greeted with much enthusiasm.
However, when Samantha Power addressed the subject on March 1, the
auditorium on the Beren Campus was filled to capacity. Employing
humor to make the subject palpable, Power discussed genocides past
and present, as well as their future prevention. She asked if America
can respond to genocide in an age of terror, and answered yes, but
only if it addresses its own human rights issues first.

Samantha Power is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for her book A
Problem from Hell about the history of genocide and ways to prevent
it in the future. She is also a professor at the Kennedy School of
Government in Harvard, and Executive Director for the Carr Institute
for Human Rights Policy.

The lecture began with a synopsis of American foreign policy, or lack
thereof, regarding genocide during much of the 20th century. During
that time, genocide occurred around the world, generally without any
censure. The massacres of the Armenian Christians, Cambodia’s killing
fields, Rwanda’s tribal genocide, and Hitler’s gas chambers occurred
with nominal outcry. Power explained that “bystander syndrome” and
“political inertia” were to blame for the silence. Only in response
to Bosnia during the middle of the Clinton administration did the
public begin to place political pressure on the government.

Power lauded Jewish groups for being instrumental in bringing human
rights and genocide to the forefront of the political scene. She
reasoned that the Jewish cry of “never again” did not only apply to
the holocaust, but to any genocide in any place. However, she
explained, because Jews have been the target of genocide, they are
uniquely qualified to combat it.

Power concluded with an assessment of the post September 11 world.
She addressed the benefits of such an age, which is attuned to terror
and determined to eliminate it. However, she cautioned against using
homeland security as a tool for violation of human rights. In an
equally harsh condemnation, she attacked both Democrats and
Republicans for ignoring issues of genocide. She also chastised the
European and Canadian governments for dumping genocide issues on
America, and America for not leading the world in a campaign against
genocide. However, along with her condemnation of President Bush, she
praised him for recognizing Darfur as genocide, when others would
not. According to human rights groups, pro-government Arab militias
have forced more than one million black Africans from their homes and
killed thousands in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

A short question and answer period was filled with questions ranging
from the usefulness of international organizations to ex-presidential
candidate Kerry’s position, and included a short rant by one audience
member on the despicable nature of the Bush administration.

At the end, Power’s rallying cry was “Darfur, Darfur, Darfur….” She
urged students to get involved and put pressure on the government to
deal with Darfur, warning that if we do not intercede today, in ten
years “Hotel Darfur” will replace the recent movie Hotel Rwanda.

The lecture was the second speech in the lecture series on human
rights planned by the Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence
Program in conjunction with the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for
International Affairs.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
March 30, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WARNS ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY GROUPS
ABOUT TARC/ICTJ THREAT TO THE ARMENIAN CAUSE

WASHINGTON, DC – Responding to the Turkish government’s
increasingly aggressive campaign to deny justice for the Armenian
Genocide, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) this
week circulated a letter warning all the leading Armenian American
organizations about the “quiet, but profoundly dangerous, campaign
by Turkey aimed at the very heart of our community’s struggle to
secure full recognition, proper commemoration, and a just
resolution of the Armenian Genocide.”

The full text of the two-page March 28th letter from ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian is provided below.

——————————————————————-

M E M O

To: Armenian American Organizations
From: Ken Hachikian, Chairman
Date: March 28, 2005
Re: TARC/ICTJ Report

I would like to convey to you our deep concern about a quiet, but
profoundly dangerous, campaign by Turkey aimed at the very heart of
our community’s struggle to secure full recognition, proper
commemoration, and a just resolution of the Armenian Genocide.

Successive U.S. administrations have sought to appease Turkey’s
sensitivities on this issue through the use of evasive wording each
April 24th and opposition to Congressional legislation on the first
genocide of modern history. We have, however, succeeded in
building Congressional opposition to Turkey’s policy of denial,
kept this issue on the U.S. legislative agenda, and, particularly
in light of the recent strains in U.S.-Turkish relations,
approached the critical mass necessary to overcome the opposition
to proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It is exactly
this momentum that is now being attacked by Turkey and its allies
in the Administration.

The Turkish government’s motivation in this matter is clear.
Recognizing the failure of its campaign of genocide denial, Ankara
has fallen back to exploring a position of acknowledgment without
consequences. These efforts enjoy the support of well-placed State
Department and Pentagon officials – adherents of outdated Cold War-
era thinking about the U.S.-Turkey relationship. These American
and Turkish officials have sought to create the false impression of
Armenian backing for this patently anti-Armenian undertaking by
securing the nominal support of a handful of Armenians. In this
way, they seek to disguise the true nature of their initiative and
to add a measure of undeserved credibility to a campaign crafted
specifically to deny justice to the Armenian people.

The main vehicle for the Turkish government’s effort toward this
end has been the discredited Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC), a group substantially funded by the State
Department and rejected by Armenians worldwide. A study
commissioned several years ago by TARC is being used as an
instrument of this current “genocide without justice” campaign. It
should be noted that, although a New York-based group called the
International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) apparently
helped TARC identify an author for this study, the report was – at
ICTJ’s own admission – written entirely independently of the ICTJ.
Despite repeated requests for transparency, neither the ICTJ, nor
anyone affiliated with TARC has, so far, revealed the author or
authors.

This paper confirms the obvious: the systematic and deliberate
annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians is indeed a case of genocide
under the U.N. Genocide Convention. The anonymous author(s),
however, go on to find that the Armenian nation has no recourse
under the Convention. Although the report specifically states that
its scope is limited to the Genocide Convention alone and that it
does not endeavor to determine whether other international laws
were violated, it summarily rejects the application of the
Convention – the most comprehensive statutory expression of the
international community’s commitment to preventing and punishing
the crime of genocide – using poor documentation and analysis,
thereby substantially and materially prejudicing the ability of
Armenians to seek redress. There are many distinguished scholars,
including Dr. Alfred de Zayas, the former Secretary of the United
Nations Human Rights Committee, who disagree with this particular
conclusion and who argue persuasively that the Genocide Convention
is legally applicable to the Armenian Genocide.

The Turkish government and its surrogates are today aggressively
using this document to seek to escape responsibility for the
Armenian Genocide. Taking advantage of the veneer provided by the
token Armenian participation in TARC, they are seeking to create
the false impression that a meaningful segment of the Armenian
American community accepts the concept that Turkey should be
allowed to remain unaccountable for the genocide of the Armenians.
Simply put – the sponsors of TARC seek to manipulate elements of
the Armenian community into forfeiting all our rights and
compromising the future of our nation based on nothing more than a
cursory four-page analysis in a single, anonymously written,
seventeen-page report commissioned by a discredited Turkish
government-linked organization.

As the collective leaders of the Armenian American community, we,
of course, understand that the formula of “recognition without
consequences” of the Armenian Genocide lacks any moral or legal
basis. The present day Republic of Turkey is heir to the Ottoman
Empire, the beneficiary of the fruits of genocide, the architect of
an eight-decade long campaign of denial aimed at evading
accountability, and the entity currently eradicating our remaining
community and cultural presence in Turkey. As such, Turkey bears
full responsibility to make reparations and restitution to the
Armenian nation for the massacres, expropriation of property, and
the exile – for nearly a century – of our people from our ancestral
homeland of more than three thousand years.

The stakes could not be higher. We must, as a community, clearly
recognize the dangers presented by this threat, decisively reject
efforts to deny our rights, and recommit ourselves to the necessary
work of securing justice for our nation and people.

Budapest Sun, Hungary
March 30 2005

Delicious Georgian

By Leon Ferrari

BACK in the early 1990s, after the Soviet Union collapsed in a haze
of vodka fumes, I was dispatched to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia,
as a foreign correspondent for a leading British newspaper. My patch,
or empire as I preferred to call it, was Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. All of these were expected to collapse in bloody ethnic
strife, and/or start border wars with their neighbors, the foreign
editor merrily informed me, so there would be plenty to do.

Nowadays I tend to see how often a destination has been featured in
Conde Nast Traveller magazine, and check that is has the requisite
choice of five star hotels, before I accept a foreign assignment, but
I was younger then, and full of enthusiasm. There were no direct
flights from Budapest of course, so I flew to Kiev, and from there to
Yerevan from where I took a night train to the Georgian capital.

Tbilisi is an enchanting place, strung out along a rocky gorge above
the river Mtkvari, its painted wooden houses perched precariously on
the side of the mountains.

Despite the country’s most famous son being Jozef Stalin, Georgians
are famed for their hospitality and friendliness, and for once the
reality lived up to the reputation. Everywhere I went I was treated
courteously and with a smile, something sections of the Hungarian
hospitality industry would do well to learn. Although I admit that
MALÉV is far more passenger friendly than the Georgian internal
airline.

When we flew to the Black Sea port of Batumi one morning there was
standing room only on the plane. Literally. Only the lucky few had
seats, thankfully including me, and the rest of the passengers stood
in the aisles. I always remember with affection one lunch I had in
Tbilisi. It was a small bar-restaurant, and when I went to pay my
bill the barman refused my money. He shook his head in an enjoyably
conspiratorial manner and gestured at another corner of the room.
There stood a swarthy man with a splendid moustache. I caught his eye
and he nodded knowingly at me. My bill was paid, for I was a guest in
Tbilisi. Sadly, nobody paid my bill in Budapest’s Georgian
Restaurant, although most of the customers, who I think were also
Georgian, nodded and greeted us as they passed by, which was a nice
touch.

The restaurant is decked out in the Georgian national colors of
maroon and white, with several fearsome looking swords and other
weapons attached to the walls, and enormous shepherd’s skirts.

We went at lunchtime, when the restaurant was not very busy, but
doubtless it gets much livelier in the evening.

Georgian food has been influenced both by Turkish and Persian, but
the cuisine is one of the world’s most delicious, using plenty of
herbs and unusual sweet and sour combinations of fruits and nuts.

Our starter of aubergines filled with walnuts were delicious, a
really zesty combination of tastes and textures. The restaurant also
bakes its own bread, known as khatchapuri, which was fabulous served
warm from the oven, like a puffed up Indian naan, but lighter. Try
the khatchapuri with cheese – highly recommended. There is a giant
barbecue grill down one side of the room, and as soon as we ordered
shashlik kebabs, one lamb and one veal, the waiter went into action
and got the coals glowing nicely.

These were excellent, a generous portion of tender meat, packed with
flavor from the grill, served on the biggest skewer I have ever seen.
We enjoyed our lunch very much, but I have two quibbles. The salad we
ordered as a side dish was extremely spicy, drenched in red pepper
flakes, so much so that I could not eat it. The waiter said this was
how Georgians like their salad, which is doubtless true, but the menu
should offer a warning, or a less fiery version. And like many
Budapest restaurants nowadays, there is no house wine and what is
available is expensive. We had an acceptable Szekszárdi red, but it
cost almost Ft4,000. But the service was attentive, and the waiter
was polite and helpful, ready to explain the dishes, and even offer
things not listed on the menu. Expect to spend around Ft5,000 per
head with a bottle of wine.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

MEDIA ALERT
March 30, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

RE: “International Relief, Refuge, and Recognition Tribute” Photos

Los Angeles, CA – Last month the Armenian Assembly, together with the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church, paid tribute to those countries and organizations
that provided relief to survivors of the Armenian Genocide or
subsequently took steps to affirm the historical record. The event,
known as the “International Relief, Refuge, and Recognition Tribute,”
welcomed more than 270 Los Angeles-area community leaders and
supporters, despite a last-minute effort by Turkey to sabotage and
prevent the remembrance ceremony.

Below are pictures from the event which was held on February 24 at the
Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Photographs available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:

Caption: “International Relief, Refuge and Recognition” honorees
accept their awards. L to R: Armenian Assembly Western Diocese
Chairman Richard Mushegain, AGBU Southern California District
Committee Chairman Vahe Imasdounian, Vice-Consul Slovak Republic
Martina Simkova, Deputy Consul General Russian Federation Yuri
Bedjanian, Father Alexis Smith of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on
behalf of the Vatican, Consular Officer Kingdom of Denmark Ruth Thale,
Consul General Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakossian, Representative
of Cyprus Michael Sarris; American Red Cross Chairman Rod Hagenbach,
Consul Genereal of Greece Dimitrios Zevelakis, Near East Foundation
President Dr. Ryan La Hurd and Armenian Assembly Board of Directors
Chairman Anthony Barsamian.

Caption: Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, a staunch supporter of Armenian
issues, speaks about the legacy of the Armenian Genocide.

Caption: California State Senator Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno), who
has championed California legislation affirming the Armenian Genocide,
signs the “Wall of Survival.”

Caption: L to R: Armenian Assembly Western Diocese Chairman Richard
Mushegain, Slovak Republic Vice-Consul Martina Simkova and event
participant Yervant Demirdjian.

Caption: Russian Federation Deputy Consul General Yuri Bedjanian
participates in the candle lighting ceremony.

Caption: Near East Foundation President Dr. Ryan La Hurd was the
keynote speaker at last month’s event.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###

NR#2005-036

SportingLife.com, UK
March 30 2005

Holland 2 Armenia 0

Holland picked up the gauntlet thrown down earlier by the Czech
Republic by beating Armenia to return to top spot in World Cup
European Zone Group One on Wednesday evening.

Romeo Castelen gave the Dutch an early advantage and when Ruud van
Nistelrooy added another later in the first half the match was
virtually over.

Earlier in the day, a 4-0 win for the Czech Republic in Andorra had
seen Marco van Basten’s side lose top spot to a side that has
generally had the better of them in recent encounters.

However, the Oranje also showed no mercy to one of European
football’s less established sides to put the Dutch in pole position
once more.

With Romania just two points behind the Dutch there is still plenty
to play for in what is proving a competitive group.

Castelen’s early strike was a self-inflicted wound for the Armenians
whose defence were left floundering by a Mark van Bommel corner, thus
allowing Castelen to score.

Van Bommel, being watched by some of Europe’s leading clubs after
some excellent performances in the Champions League for PSV
Eindhoven, delighted his home fans by also being involved in the
second.

His pass found Van Nistelrooy and the Manchester United hitman gave
goalkeeper Roman Berezovski no chance.

Armenian forays into Dutch territory were something of a rarity
although goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was called into action to deny
Armen Shahgeldyan.

The experienced Berezovksi was by far the busier of the two
custodians and did well to deny Van Nistelrooy his second goal in the
second half.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst was unfortunate not to grab a third goal for
the Oranje when he rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort.

After adverse results against the Czechs in qualification for Euro
2004, and then throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in Aveiro in a
classic encounter to their bogey team, the Dutch can at least know
they have Bruckner and his men where they want them at this stage of
qualification.

With Romania having played one game more and the other teams in the
group nowhere the opportunity is there for Van Basten to do what his
predecessor Dick Advocaat failed to achieve.

Teams

Holland Van der Sar, Kromkamp, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Bouma,
Landzaat (Van der Vaart 50), Castelen (Babel 50), Van Bommel, van
Nistelrooy, Cocu, Kuijt (Vennegoor of Hesselink 81).

Subs Not Used: Timmer, Melchiot, Maduro.

Booked: Van der Vaart.

Goals: Castelen 3, van Nistelrooy 34.

Armenia Berezovsky, Melikian, Dokhoyan, Hovsepyan (Arman Karamian
84), Arzumanian (Tadevosian 85), Grigorian (Artavazd Karamian 60),
Khachatrian, Shahgeldyan, Voskanian, Hakobian, Mkhitarian.

Subs Not Used: Nazarian, Apula Edima Bete, Jenebian, Karen
Aleksanian.

Booked: Grigorian, Hovsepyan, Melikian.

Att: 33,000

Ref: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy).

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/30/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) US Stance on Armenian Genocide May Ease Turkey-US Tensions
2) Armenia Makes New Bid for Extra US Aid
3) Switzerland Urges Turkey to Face The Past
4) Deputy Commander of US European Command Visits Yerevan
5) DM Says Azerbaijan Would Sustain Huge Defeat in War, Calls for `Painful’
Compromise Solution
6) Syrian Delegation at ARF Center

1) US Stance on Armenian Genocide May Ease Turkey-US Tensions

ISTANBUL (AFP)–The United States will help ease tensions with Turkey if it
sticks to its stance of not recognizing the “killings of Armenians under the
Ottoman Empire as genocide,” Anatolia news agency quoted a senior Turkish
official as saying.
Turkey expects Washington “to maintain the sound position on the issue it has
displayed in the past as a first step…[towards] leaving current disturbances
behind so that Turkish-US ties can progress on a healthy basis,” the head of
the National Security Council, Yigit Alpogan said.
“We believe the American administration will not give the green light to
slanders which render all Turks as children of murderers,” Alpogan told a
gathering of a Turkish-American business group.
Washington has so far refrained from terming the World War I massacres as
genocide, despite pressure from pro-Armenian lobbies.
Ankara is concerned that the Armenians will this year [on the 90th
anniversary
of the Armenian genocide] step up their campaign to have the events
acknowledged as genocide by Washington–at a time when Turkish-US relations
are
markedly strained by differences over Iraq.
In October 2000, a draft congressional resolution acknowledging the killings
as genocide was pulled from the House floor following an intervention by then
president Bill Clinton, who argued that the United State not damage its ties
with Turkey, a key Muslim ally.
Since then, however, those ties have deteriorated.
The Turkish parliament stunned Washington just before the occupation of Iraq
in March 2003 when it denied US troops access to Turkish territory for a
planned invasion of Iraq from the north.
Relations between the two NATO allies were further strained by US reluctance
to take military action against Turkish Kurd rebels in northern Iraq and
Ankara’s concern that Iraqi Kurds are getting too much power in post-war Iraq.

2) Armenia Makes New Bid for Extra US Aid

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The Armenian government has submitted new, more modest
proposals for additional US economic assistance under the Millennium Challenge
Account program, almost six months after presenting its initial application.
The Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday that the government has asked for
about $175 million worth of aid and hopes that its upcoming negotiations with
the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government agency managing
the
scheme, will be successful. “In the coming months the government of Armenia
and
the MCC will hold negotiations in order to reach a final agreement on the
issue,” the ministry said in a statement.
Armenia had initially sought $900 million worth of aid over three years, but
lowered expectations after Armenian and US officials met in October.
A Finance Ministry statement revealed the government approved the new aid
application on March 25 and submitted it to Washington on Tuesday. Most of the
requested money would be spent on rebuilding battered irrigation networks and
roads in rural regions of Armenia.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) was unveiled by President George W.
Bush last year. Armenia is among 16 developing nations eligible for the
program’s first $1 billion aid allocation. They were chosen on the basis of 16
indicators of political and economic reforms.
Armenia has already been a leading per-capita recipient of US assistance
which
has totaled more than $1.5 billion since 1992.

3) Switzerland Urges Turkey to Face The Past

(AFP)–Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Tuesday urged Turkey to
carry out a detailed study on the Armenians genocide, under Ottoman rule
during
World War I.
“We think that it is essential that every country conduct an in-depth
historical research of its own past, especially when the question is so
painful,” Calmy-Rey told reporters after talks with her Turkish counterpart
Abdullah Gul.
The Swiss minister was speaking on the first day of an official visit which
was originally supposed to take place in 2003, but was cancelled after the
Swiss canton of Vaud officially recognized the 1915 genocide of Armenians.
Shortly afterwards, the lower house of the Swiss parliament also followed
suit–against the Bern government’s advice–and adopted a similar resolution,
unleashing an angry response from Ankara.
Referring to Turkey’s call for an “unbiased” study by [Turkish] historians of
its past, Calmy-Rey called the move a “good idea,” but said she had
proposed to
Gul the inclusion of international experts in such a commission for the
credibility of the work.

4) Deputy Commander of US European Command Visits Yerevan

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Gen. Charles F. Wald, US European Command Deputy
(USEUCOM) Commander, arrived in Armenia on March 30 to discuss developing
US-Armenia military ties.
During his meeting with President Robert Kocharian, General Wald discussed
US-Armenia military technical cooperation, as well as developments in the
Karabagh conflict regulation.
Gen. Wald noted the importance for both for the US and Europe to ensure
stability and peace in the region.
While in Yerevan, General Wald and his staff will also meet with Defense
Minister Serge Sargsian and members of the Armenian military leadership.
USEUCOM, based in Stuttgart, Germany, is responsible for all US forces
operating across 91 countries in Europe, Africa, Russia, parts of Asia, and
the
Middle East, as well as most of the Atlantic Ocean. General Wald became Deputy
Commander of the United States European Command on Dec 2, 2002.
Meanwhile, the periodic session of the NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council’s Atlantic Policy Advisory Group will take place in Yerevan, March
31-April 1, with the participation of 65 representatives from NATO’s 38 member
and partner countries. They will discuss security issues in the Euro-Atlantic
region.
The deputy of the NATO Secretary General on political relations and security
policy issues, Günter Altenburg, will chair the session. He will also meet
with
President Kocharian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, and Defense Minister
Sargsian.

5) DM Says Azerbaijan Would Sustain Huge Defeat in War, Calls for `Painful’
Compromise Solution

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Addressing parliamentary hearings on resolving the
Mountainous Karabagh conflict, Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsian
said he
has no doubts that the long-standing dispute can be solved only through
peaceful means, based on mutual compromises.
He cautioned, however, that if Azerbaijan resumes hostilities in an effort to
take Mountainous Karabagh back, it would `sustain a heavy defeat.’
“The price we might pay for it would depend on how strongly the Armenian
people and political forces back the army. If–God forbid–the situation in
Armenia resembles that of Azerbaijan of 1992-1994, we may face a catastrophe,”
he said. He also added that he did not rule out the possibility of resumption
of war.
`I did not deny such a possibility in 1995, 1998, and in 2000–and I do not
deny it now. There is always the threat of a new war and there are no
guarantees against it,’ he said.
Sargsian went on to argue that the regulation process would be painful for
both nations, as only a compromised solution is possible. `Compromise means
that you have to give in part of what you have, which is always a painful
process. The compromise solution must be first of all backed by Armenians and
not only by the political elite,’ he said.
Sargsian outlined acceptable compromises that include the implementation of
Council of Europe Resolution 1416, another referendum of independence in
Karabagh, and a return of seized lands. `We could make concessions on the
condition that Azeri side gives clear guarantees of non-resumption of military
actions which must be confirmed by authoritative international organizations
and states,’ he said.

6) Syrian Delegation at ARF Center

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The delegation of 12 Arab tribal leaders from Syria, met
with
the leadership of Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Armenia on
Wednesday,
at the ARF Simon Vratsian Center in Yerevan.
The tribal leaders, who are participating in events marking the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide, conveyed that their century-long
friendship with Armenian is a firm and lasting one.
Representatives of the Armenian parliament also met with the Arab leaders,
and
thanked them for respecting the memory of the genocide victims, as well as for
the kindness of their ancestors who gave refuge to the fragments of Armenians
who miraculously survived the genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in 1915.

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Portsmouth Herald News, NH
March 30 2005

Surprises in store at Haley Farm Gallery

By Michael T. MacDonald

What: Survival Through Creativity, commemorating the 90th and 60th
anniversaries of the Armenian Genocide and the Jewish Holocaust,
featured work by Berj Kailian and Samuel Bak,
When: through April 30,

Where: Haley Farm Gallery, 178 Haley Road, Kittery, Maine.

Contact: Call (207) 439-2669, e-mail [email protected] or
visit

Haley Farm Gallery presents: An Afternoon of Poetry and Verse
Readings by Diana Der Hovanessian and Scott-Martin Kosofsky. Sunday,
April 17, 2-4 p.m.. Haley Farm Gallery, 178 Haley Road, Kittery,
Maine. This reading complements the current art
exhibit.

“Survival through Creativity” is not what you might expect. These are
not dark works composed from nightmares and horrific history.
Instead, the walls inside the Haley Farm Gallery are covered with
bright, colorful, and vibrant images full of life.

In memory of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the
60th anniversary of the Jewish Holocaust, the Haley Farm Gallery in
Kittery, Maine is featuring artwork by survivors of these tragedies –
Berj Kailian and Samuel Bak.

Ninety- year-old Armenian Berj Kailian did not attend the exhibit’s
opening, but despite her absence, everything said about her indicates
that she is an animated, fiery, and kind artist, who encourages her
audience to let her work stand on its own without her interference.
But, if you have questions, gallery owner Jackie Abramian is eager to
answer them and help explain the meaning behind some of Kailian’s
work.

“Escape,” mixed media on paper, by Samuel Bak.

At nine months old, an infant Kailian was wrapped in newspaper by her
mother and they were forced into marches through Armenia. These stiff
blankets of paper have become recurring symbols of memory throughout
the work in this exhibit. “Silences of Women” (Monoprint Enhanced
Collage) is a strong example of this memory. It is a collage of
rolled-up strips of paper placed side by side in a cross-like figure
(another symbol of Kailian’s memory). Those newspapers that kept
Kailian warm are now torn and rolled up and represented in a colorful
painting. Looking carefully, we notice one roll of paper has detached
and is sitting at the base of the frame. This separation is
intentional and Kailin has named this lone piece “Berj.”

The cross-like figure appears in many of her paintings as well. It
also resembles a human shape with wide, welcoming arms and is the
focus of “Myth and Symbol Series Zoroastrian” (Monoprint/Collage), a
vibrantly colored piece filled with oranges and reds. Even though
Berj Kailian has many dark and sad memories, she still looks upon the
world through bright eyes.

“I carry the memories with me every single day of my life. But you
have to survive and you just have to accept that dark companion that
is with you everywhere you go,” Kailian says.

As bright and vivid an artist as Berj Kailian, and coming from a
sadly similar background, is Jewish Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak.
Placed into a ghetto at the age of 7, Bak focuses his artwork on
putting together, repairing, parts of life that have been destroyed
by violent atrocity.

“Our world is composed of broken things – things with bruises, cracks
and missing parts – and we must learn to live with them,” Bak says.

“In Need of Tikkun” (oil on canvas) shows Bak’s attempt to explain
this idea of broken pieces. Tikkun means “repair” in Hebrew and the
painting depicts two old angels with blue wings pointing to a hole
ripped in a sheet or piece of paper. Other works, though, show Bak’s
effort at putting the world back together. The most striking images
are those of birds with broken wings. One is of dove-like birds with
wings made of scraps of wood. Another, “Escape” (mixed media on
paper), shows a large white, paper bird caught in a tree, pierced by
branches, against a vast blue and white sky.

When the result of such amazing stories of survival in the face of
the most horrific of events is such vivid and bright creativity, it
is assuring for us. It helps us to realize there is hope and beauty,
even in a world of broken pieces.